Farmer awarded Rs 10 lakh compensation for crop loss

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has awarded an Ajnala-based farmer Rs 10 lakh compensation for damage caused to his kinnow crop in 2010 due to the 'negligence and unfair trade practice' on the part of an Amritsar-based shopkeeper (firm). The firm had supplied the farmer with a wrong mixture for application on his crop.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has awarded an Ajnala-based farmer Rs 10 lakh compensation for damage caused to his kinnow crop in 2010 due to the 'negligence and unfair trade practice' on the part of an Amritsar-based shopkeeper (firm). The firm had supplied the farmer with a wrong mixture for application on his crop.

In his complaint filed in February 2011, the farmer, Rajan Deep Singh, stated that on October 13, 2010, he went to M/S Vinod Kumar Aggarwal and Co of Chowk Chitra Talkies road, Amritsar, to purchase zinc sulphate for his kinnow crop. Officials of the horticulture department had recommended the chemical. However, instead of zinc sulphate, the firm supplied him with a micro-nutrient mixture.

After spraying the mixture on the crop, black spots appeared on the fruit and within a few days, nearly 75% of the crop on 7.5 acres turned black. The farmer claimed that this was brought to the notice of the supplier, but the firm refused to entertain his complaint.

Thereafter, he lodged a complaint with the district horticulture department, which appointed of team of experts to look into the issue. On investigation, officials discovered that the farmer had been supplied with a sub-standard micro-nutrient, instead of zinc sulphate.

The forum said that it stood fully proved that due to negligence and unfair trade practice on the part of M/S Vinod Kumar and Co, micro-nutrients were supplied to the complainant instead of zinc sulphate, leading to the destruction of 75% of the crop.

The judgment added that the horticulture department had assesses the farmer's total cost at Rs 18.15 lakh. "However, as the complainant has demanded compensation to the tune of Rs 10 lakh, the opposite party is liable to compensate," the judgment stated. The firm has also been asked to pay Rs 2,000 as litigation expenses to Singh. The judgment was delivered last month, but a copy of the decision was made available to the counsel of the complainant on Thursday.

The judgment specifies that the compensation be made within one month from the date of receipt of copy of the orders, failing which M/S Vinod Kumar Aggarwal and Co. shall be liable to pay interest at 9% per annum from the date of filing of the complaint till payment is made. The forum had received the complaint in February 2011 under sections 12/13 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.